The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

Main menu

IWM London
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM North
Manchester
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM Duxford
Cambridgeshire
Open daily

Summer 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm

Winter 10am - 4pm
Last admission 3pm

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
Churchill War Rooms
London
Open daily 9.30am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
HMS Belfast
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information

Collections search

SCENES AT AN ARTILLERY TRAINING CAMP IN ENGLAND, 1917
part of "FIRST WORLD WAR AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1917
Recruits engaged in Physical Training (Swedish Drill) at a Royal Artillery training camp in England.
Money is Still Needed
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Bert (MBE) (artist) 1918
whole: the image is placed across the top third, with the title across the bottom within a black box. image: two-tone image of three sailors loading a small naval gun. text: [blank] money is still needed so keep on buying WAR BONDS No. 125 THE...
Feed the Guns with War Bonds and Help to End the War
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Bert (MBE) (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds of the poster, with the title below right, in white and orange against a black background. image: five British artillerymen operate a howitzer, which points right, angled away from the viewer towards an...
Buy War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-10
whole: the title is placed across the top and incorporated into the image, with the subtitle positioned lower left. image: three howitzers point to the right against a bright yellow sky. Two artillerymen load the foreground howitzer with a war bond...
SCENES AT AN ARTILLERY TRAINING CAMP IN ENGLAND, 1917
part of "FIRST WORLD WAR AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1917
Recruits are given a lecture on an aspect of gunnery.
On Her Their Lives Depend
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Munitions (publisher/sponsor) 1916
whole: the image fills the majority of the design with black and yellow text superimposed over it at the top. Text in white and yellow is placed within a black horizontal band at the bottom, part of the image overlapping this band. image: a photographic...